Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Michelson’

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;Michelson&#39; characterized by its small sized blooms with pink ray-florets and yellow-green disc florets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Michelson’ is a product of a breeding-program which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with a decorative type flower, a 7 week response and a medium plant height. The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant. ‘Michelson’ is a seedling from a cross in a breeding program maintained under the control of inventor. The female parent is #94.0754, the male parent is #92.1024, both unpatented, unnamed seedlings not available to inventor to describe. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by Rob Noodelijk in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout Holland in April 1997. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Michelson’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in June 1997 in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout Holland.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum bearing small sized blooms with pink ray-florets and yellow-green center.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows the foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification chrysanthemum morifolium. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout Holland in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. The greenhouse temperatures during this crop were at day-time between 18° C. and 25° C. and at night 20° C. The photo-periodic response time in this crop was 54 days after an average of eight long days. After this long day period to flowering growth retardants were applied 6 times in an average dose of 1.5 gram/liter water. The plants were observed (directly) during the flowering of this crop. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. This new variety produces small sized blooms with pink ray-florets and yellow-green disc-florets blooming on the plant for 5 weeks. This new variety of chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations however the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘Michelson’ can be planted without assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 50 and week 40 of the next year under greenhouse conditions in Holland. With assimilation lightning (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted year round under greenhouse conditions in Holland.

From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Michelson’ is ‘Dark Charm’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,585). When ‘Dark Charm’ and ‘Michelson’ are being compared the following differences are noticed: The difference of ‘Dark Charm’ and ‘Michelson’ are: (1) Flowerform. The flower of ‘Michelson’ has a small anemone type center with a clear yellow-green color. ‘Dark Charm’ is a pure decorative flower. (2) Growth rate. The growth of ‘Dark Charm’ is more vigorous.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Michelson’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Edition 1995.

Botanical description of: cultivar ‘Michelson’

Bud:

Size.—Large;cross-section 1.5 cm, height 1.3 cm.

Outside color.—Red-purple 75 D.

Involucral bracts.—2 rows, length 7 mm, width 3 mm.

Involucral bracts among disc-florets.—Not present.

Involucral bracts color.—Green 138 B.

Bloom:

Type.—Decorative.

Height.—Flat, 1.4-1.6 cm.

Size.—Small.

Fully expanded.—5.0-5.5 cm.

Number of blooms per branch.—Approx. 3 blooms per branch.

Performance on the plant.—5 weeks.

Seeds.—Not produced.

Fragrance.—Typical chrysanthemum.

Color:

Center of the flower (disc-florets).—Immature yellow-green 144 C. Mature yellow-green 144 C in the center, the outer part yellow-green 154 C.

Color of upper surface of the ray-florets.—Red-purple 75 B.

Color of the lower surface of the ray-florets.—Purple 76 D.

Tonality from distance.—A pot mum with pink flowers and a yellow-green center.

Color of the surface of the ray-florets after aging of the plant.—Red-purple 73 D.

Ray florets:

Texture.—Upper and under side smooth.

Number.—60-65.

Cross-section.—Concave.

Longitudinal axis of majority.—Straight to incurved.

Length of corolla tube.—Medium.

Ray-floret length.—2.2-2.6 cm.

Ray-floret width.—1.4 cm.

Ratio length/width.—Very low.

Shape of tip.—Round.

Disc florets:

Disc diameter.—1.0-1.2 cm.

Distribution of disc florets.—Numerous, clearly visible at all stages of flowering.

Shape.—Petaloid.

Color.—Yellow-green 144 C.

Receptacle shape.—Domed raised.

Reproductive organs:

Stamen (present in disc florets only).—Thin, 3 mm in length.

Number of stamen.—4.

Stamen color.—Yellow-green 144 A.

Pollen.—A very little appears at a late stage of flowering.

Pollen color.—Yellow-orange 12 A.

Styles (present in both ray and disc florets).—Thin.

Style color.—Yellow-green 144 C.

Style length.—4 mm.

Stigmas.—Yellow-green 144 C.

Stigma width.—1 mm.

Ovaries.—Enclosed in calyx.

Plant:

Form.—A pot mum meant for indoor use.

Growth habit.—Spreading.

Growth rate.—Moderate.

Height.—23.0-26.0 cm.

Width.—24.0 cm.

Stem color.—Green 138 B.

Stem strength.—Very strong.

Stem brittleness.—Absent.

Stem anthocyanin coloration.—Absent.

Length of lateral branch.—From top to bottom 12.0-14.0 cm.

Lateral branch color.—Green 138 B.

Lateral branch, attachment.—Strong.

Branching (average number of lateral branches).—Prolific with 5-6 breaks after pinching.

Peduncle length.—4.0-4.5 cm.

Peduncle color.—Green 138 B.

Flowering response(photo-periodic controlled crop, not natural season.—54 Days.

Foliage:

Color mature.—Upper side green 137 A. Under side green 137 D.

Color immature.—Upper side green 137 A. Under side green 137 D.

Size.—Small; length 6.0 cm, width 5.5 cm.

Quantity (number per lateral branch).—6-7.

Shape.—Oval and lobed.

Texture upper side.—Glabrous.

Texture under side.—Pubescent.

Venation arrangement.—Palmate.

Shape of the margin.—Serrated.

Shape of base of sinus between lateral lobes.—Round.

Margin of sinus between lateral lobes.—Parallel.

Shape of base.—Acute.

Apex.—Mucronate.

Differences with the comparison varieties: When grown under same conditions.

‘MICHELSON’ ‘DARK CHARM’ Flower-form Flower with small Pure decorative flower anemone type center, with only dark pink ray- yellow-green 144 C florets (red-purple 73 B) Growth rate moderate Rapid 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 